Preventing Problems with Bats · Bats are perhaps some of our most misunderstood and...
Transcript of Preventing Problems with Bats · Bats are perhaps some of our most misunderstood and...
Bats are perhaps some of our most misunderstood and under-appreciated wildlife, despite their beneficialroleinourenvironment.Theseflyingmammalsarevitalincontrollinginsectpopulationsandcanconsumenearlytheirbodyweightininsectseachnight!Unfortunately,theirnocturnalnature,centuriesofmythsandmisinformation,andnegativeportrayalinpopularmediahascontributedtoneedlessfearofthesecreaturesandhasevenledtothedeclineofnumerousbatspecies.BatpopulationsinNorthAmericaaredecreasingasaresultofWhitenoseSyndrome,afungaldisease,makingpreventionofhumanrelatedpersecutionorconflictexceedinglyimportant.
coexist with Bats
Preventing Problems with BatsAlthoughbatsareanintegralcomponentofourenvironment,occasionallytheycanbecomeanuisancespecieswhentheyinterruptourdailylivesbyenteringhomes,schools,orotherstructures.Herearesomeusefultipstoavoidnegativeinteractionswithbatsanddealwithnuisanceissues.
• Preventbatsfromenteringhomesandbuildingsbyrepairingdamagetosidingorotherareasofthehousethatcreateopeningsforbatstoenter.Useappropriatehardware/materialstopreventaccessthroughchimneys,vents,orotherstructures.Formoreinformationgotobatcon.org.
• Establishabatboxnearyourresidencetoencouragebatstoroostsomewhereotherthanyourhomeorshed.Plansforbuildingbatboxescanbefoundonlinefromnumerouswebsitespromotingbatconservationand/orwildlifemanagement.BatConservationInternational has done the most research on batboxconstructionandplacementtoincreasethechancesofbatsoccupyingthebox(batcon.org).Ingeneral,itisrecommendedthatthebat house be placed on a pole, not a tree, at least10feethighinaplacethatgetssevenhoursofdirectsunlightinthesummer.Theyshouldalsobeplacedinareaswheretheywillnotbefrequentlydisturbedbyhumanactivityandwhereguanoaccumulationwillnotbeproblematic(e.g.,awayfromwalkways,children’splayareas,etc.).
LAUREN SOBKOVIAK / FLICKR
MELISSA MCGAW / NCWRC
U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE
FAYNTASTIC PHOTOGRAPHY / FLICKR
North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission1751VarsityDrive,Raleigh,N.C.27606
Bats Quick Facts: Do bats attack people?Contrarytopopularbelief,batsdonotattackpeopleortrytogettangledintheirhair.Batsarenotblind,but,toaidtheminhuntingatnight,theydohavesophisticatedecholocationsystemsthatallowthemtonavigatetheirenvironmentanddetectprey.Ifabatcanlocateamosquitoinmidflight,itisunlikelythattheywouldaccidentallyflyintoahuman.Often,peoplebelievetheyarebeingattackedwheninrealityabatjusthappenstobeforagingforinsectsneartheindividual,typicallywheretheyhavecongregatednearalightsource(e.g.frontporchlight,streetlight,etc.).
Don’t all bats have rabies?No.Althoughallmammalscancontractrabies,only2–4%ofallbatstestedinNCtestpositiveforthedisease.Additionally,evenabatthathasrabieswilltypicallyonlybiteahumaninselfdefenseifhandled
(aswillahealthybat).Itisneverrecommendedthatanyonetouchorpickupabat,particularlyonethatissuspectedtobediseased.Youcannotgetrabiesfromjustseeingabat,frombeinginaroomwithabat,orfromcontactwithbatguano(feces),urine,orblood.
Are all bats bloodsuckers?Whileitistruethattherearebatsthatfeedonblood,nobatinNorthCarolinaisahemovore(animalthatfeedsonblood).TherearethreespeciesofvampirebatsthatexistonlyfromMexicothroughSouthAmerica.Surprisingly,batsthatfeedonblooddonotpuncturetheirvictimsandsucktheirbloodaspopularmediasuggests.Actually,thesebatshavespeciallyadaptedincisorsthatslicetheskinlikearazorbladeandwhichallowsthemtosimplylapupthebloodwiththeirtongue.
If you already have a problem with Bats:find out where bats are entering your residence. Stationsomeoneoutsideofyourhomearounddusktodeterminewherebatsareexiting.Doathoroughinspectionofallpotentialentrypointssuchassmallholes,cracksinfasciaorsiding,andspacesaroundutilityconduits.Permanentlysealallofthepotentialentrypointswhileleavingtheentrypointsthebatsareusingopen.Then,installanevictiondevicethatallowsthebatstoleavebutpreventsthemfromreentering.Someexamplesincludeusingscreeningortubing.Formoreinformationanddirectionsgotobatcon.org.AvoidclosingupholesorinstallingexclusiondevicesfromMay1throughJuly31.Thispreventstrappingyoungbatsinsidethatarenotreadytoleavetheroostandstillrequireparentalcare.Also,itreducesthechancethatfemalebatswillgetintothelivingspacewhiletryingtoreachtheirpups.Finally,pupsmaywanderastheystarveandendupinthelivingspace.
• Nevertouchorpickupabat.Althoughtheywillnotattackunprovokedtheywillbiteinselfdefense.Ifthereisabatinyourhomeandithasnotcomeintocontactwithaperson,useaclear,emptyboxandapieceofcardboardtocapturethebatandreleaseitoutdoors.
• Ifyouarebittenbyabatitisextremelyimportantthatyouseekmedicalassistance.Rabiesisreadilypreventedbypostexposurevaccination,butisalmostalwaysfatalaftersymptomsappear.Promptmedicalattentionisessentialfollowingabitebyabatorothermammal.Ifyouareunsureofwhetherafamilymemberorpethasbeenbitten,seektheadviceofamedicalprofessionalsuchasyourprimaryphysicianorcountyhealthdepartment.Ifthebatcanbesafelycaptured(inaboxorcan)itshouldbesenttoalaboratoryfortestingsothatexpensiverabiestreatmentcanbeavoidedifpossible.
• Ifyouneedassistanceremovingthemfromyourstructure,contactaWildlifeDamageControlAgent(aprivateindividualwhochargesforhis/herservices).Alistofagentsinyourareaisavailableatncwildlife.orgunder“HaveaWildlifeProblem”.
U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE MICHAEL PENNAY / FLICKR